Electronic and Mobile Commerce

Abstract

This paper aims to provide knowledge about e-commerce and its influence on the traditional businesses. It also highlights various opportunities provided by e-commerce to businesses. E-commerce technology is converted into mobile commerce; this paper explains how this technology convergence takes place. The planning process of e-commerce strategy has also been included in the paper for further information.

Electronic and Mobile Commerce

Introduction

In business practices, e commerce has brought a revolution. If companies want to take benefit from emerging internet technologies then they must have to take strategic initiatives for development. It is also essential for companies to make an integrated link between their e commerce business strategy and corporate strategy.

E commerce can be defined as a process in which computer networks are used and they help in the development of the organization. Organizations aim to provide faster services to their customers by using e commerce strategies. Their ultimate goal is to increase profits, gain market share and satisfying customer needs (Watson et al, 2008). E commerce involves all the online activities of an organization related to its customers, stakeholders, suppliers and distributors. Thus, it can be defined as the use of information technology and transactions among its stakeholders and competitors in an organization.

E commerce Strategy

For making an integrated e commerce strategy, there are various things which have to be examined. They include:

The nature of the organization- the industry in which the organization operates.

The nature of the product- the kind of products in which the organization is dealing

The online model which organization wants to adopt- choose among B2B, B2C and others.

There are seven important dimensions for making an effective E-commerce strategy (E-commerce Strategy, 2013). This model helps the organizations of all sectors to address these seven basic issues related to e commerce business. This model can be used by traditional companies in their e commerce strategy formulation process.

Technology

Technology adoption can help the companies in achieving remarkable growth in an online presence. Organizations are successful in building strong customer relationship management by offering technological advancement in their businesses.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure of the online business also needs to be observed when planning for an e-commerce business. The infrastructure has three most important levels at which it must be considered:

Strategic

At this level, it is important to evaluate the influence of future e-commerce businesses on the organization and the market. The goal is to support new technology with the future challenges of the business.

Physical

At this level, it is essential to make sure that the software and hardware of the online business environment are aligned with the telecommunication networks.

Organizational

At this level, the main task is to interlink the processes, work flow, work practices and infrastructure of the organization to make strategic goals in the long run.

Service

Service is one of the important dimensions of e-commerce strategy. Service leadership comes when an organization caters potential customers and builds strong relationships with the existing customers by providing them with fast and efficient services.

Brand

Brand leadership comes when an organization make effective strategies for promoting it brand on the ...